Woman’s New-found Freedom

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 February 1930, Page 11

Woman’s New-found Freedom

Are They Spoiled as a Result?

IS it possible that man is profiting more than woman is from her social and economic . emancipation Or, more disturbing still, is woman ever profiting by her freedom? During the last two decades she must have been basking in an illusionary freedom, for what she is now beginning to feel is that she has assumed more burdens than her feminine predecessors had, while man, on the other hand, seems to be correspondingly relieved of numerous responsibilities. She is also somewhat sceptical of those who claim that Avoman to-day is ruling the world and is taming, regulating and disciplining man to do what is agreeable and pleasing to her. On the contrary, she believes, more firmly than-ever, that this is a civilisation made by man for man, and that the world revolves very much as he wants it to. Any attempt on her part to improve this state of affairs will not only find the odds stacked against her, but perhaps, unwittingly, she may give man even greater leeway than ever. As it is, she feels she has spoiled him to such an extent that, he has less regard for his moral and domestic obligations than had the Adams of any other generation.

Naturally it would be interesting to know how man feels about this. Does he concur with woman in the opinion 'that he has gained more than she has? That, in fact, he is “getting away” with advantages to which he has no right. To obtain a fair and unbiased point of view, one that, reaches deeper than the surface, Dr. Harry Elmer Barnes was approached. He is well known as a. sociologist, historian and educator, and his books have commanded great attention and have given new impetus to liberal thought.

Since the question under consideration is one which has long interested Dr. Barnes, his reply was quick and to the point:— “I do not see that woman’s emancipation has relieved man of any fundamental social responsibility,” he said. "‘We cannot get. away from the fact that we must maintain the family circle. The latter is as indispensable as ever. There are definite benefits which the individual and society in general derive from the family, but, in order to obtain them, it is necessary for man himself to make contributions to it. That woman, because of her own ability to earn, has eased his burden there can be no doubt. But that man is disregarding his responsibilities while woman carries the load is somewhat far-fetched.”

“First of all, the number of married women whom necessity forces to assume half of the financial obligations of the house, in addition to taking care of the domestic ones is very small. The average wife who works to-day does so because she wants to live on a betterscale; because she wants a maid, a car and other luxuries which her husband cannot afford to give her. She prefers to have her own bank account and not have to rely on her husband for every penny. If, perchance, her married life does not run smoothly, she can at any time tell her husband that if he does not like what she is doing he can leave. For the

Man Relieved of Many Responsibilities

and the pleasure of being able to say this, she is willing, I am sure, to forego almost, all of her ancient rights. “Barring unusual circumstances, the woman could well get along on her husband’s salary if she wanted to. In many eases the woman claims that she has to work not for luxuries, but. just to be able to afford children. However, what so frequently happens is that she keeps postponing the day, meanwhile accustoming herself to the advantages that the combined income gives, until finally she no longer has the desire fox* children or she finds that she cannot have them at all. “While I think it is a splendid thing for a woman to continue her work after marriage, yet, in general, she should anly do so after she has had and l-eared children. No matter how modest the income of the husband may be —and that never has been nor should be an obstacle the family life should be based on the desire for children. Otherwise, why marry? “Bxxt consider the woman where circumstances make it imperative for her to be a bi*eadwinner as well as a wife and mother. Is she assuming more l-esponsibilities than the man? Or more responsibilities than women of other days had? On the surface it would seem so, but in reality her twofold role is far lighter than the work which any house-wife of yesterday had. Hers was drudgery. The old-fashion-ed* household, devoid of conveniences of any kind, meant literal slavery for the woman. It took all of her effort, from eaidy morn to late at night, to cook the .meals and to keep the house clean—in other words, merely to exist. Any kind of work in an office or factory is much to be preferred to that sort of drudgery. It sapped a woman’s energy and made her old before her time. She was too tired and worn to give the best of herself to her ehildi’en or husbaxxd.

“To-day, even if working in the business world does not permit her to be free of household tasks, how much do they amount to when there are innumerable inventions and conveniences to aid her? And any man of character whose wife helps him to discharge his financial obligations shoxxld also do his share in the home. “Of coui*se, when it comes to spineless men who are only too ready to take advantage of the modei’n women’s economic and social freedom, that is a different matter. Such men, who are nothing more or less than loafers and parasites, will naturally profit a great deal from woman’s independence. But a discussion of this kind cannot be confined to exceptions. “Generally speaking, men not only are taking care of but emphatically want to take care of their economic responsibilities. The average man has a more- difficult "burden than the woman in this respect, since it is usually essential for him to do the actual supporting of the family. He is not working for luxuries, but for the necessities of life —for food, shelter and clothing. There is no small strain attached to this, especially when one considers that most men are still loth to think of establishing a family unless they are reasonably sure they can take care of it.”